Every year, businesses throughout Downtown Kingsport prepare for the holiday season by decorating their stores, offering sales and promotions on products and spreading Christmas cheer to all who come through their doors. For many local stores, Small Business Saturday kicks off the holiday shopping season.
First observed in 2010, Small Business Saturday is an annual event that takes place on the Saturday following Thanksgiving. Small Business Saturday encourages Americans across the country to support local small businesses. The day has become known as an important day to show support for small businesses while helping put money back into the local economy.
On Small Business Saturday, shop ‘til you drop at more than 50 Downtown Kingsport stores. With a variety of boutiques, galleries, specialty shops, antique stores, floral shops, bakeries, coffee shops, restaurants, salons, pet good stores and more, there is something for everyone to find in Downtown Kingsport. Enjoy the personalized service and experience that comes with shopping small while checking off all the names on your Christmas list.
Downtown Kingsport Association (DKA) will host activities throughout the day on Saturday, November 30. From 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., enjoy Christmas Caroling by the West Ridge High School Choral Department. There will also be holiday photo ops throughout downtown. Old Huldy, the Kingsport Fire Department’s vintage fire truck and Red Annie, the Kingsport Firefighters Association’s 1929 American LaFrance fire truck will be set up for photos at the intersection of Broad and Market Streets from 12-2 p.m.
New this year is the Downtown Kingsport Christmas Market, sponsored by Brightspeed. It will be held on Small Business Saturday from 3-7 p.m. at High Voltage. The market will feature locally crafted goods, treats, fire pits and more. Food and seasonal drinks will be available from Brunch Box food truck, Vintage Vixens and the Fuse Box at High Voltage.
When shoppers support local small businesses, they also support the community through sales tax. The sales tax money is used to support schools, parks, infrastructure and public services.
“Small businesses employ local residents, helping to support families that live in our community,” says Robin Cleary, Senior Director of DKA. “They often donate to local charities, support local sports teams and other causes. Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy in so many ways and are certainly the heart of Downtown Kingsport.”
In addition to DKA’s Small Business Saturday activities, the Kingsport Office of Small Business Development and Entrepreneurship (KOSBE) is offering a special holiday promotion, sponsored by Eastman Credit Union, for the KOSBE Bucks community digital gift card program. These gift cards can be used at a number of Kingsport establishments (including several downtown) to shop, eat, play and more. Between November 1, 2024 and January 1, 2025 (or while supplies last), purchasers who buy a KOSBE Bucks community digital gift card with a value of $50 will receive a free $25 gift card as a bonus. To purchase a gift card and view the full list of participating merchants, visit www.kosbe.org/buylocal.
